Chill. Chill. Chill.

It's cold. There's no other way to describe it. Well, perhaps I could say:

It's as cold as Kansas.

And, in Portland we have the misfortune to have 'air stagnation.'

I guess I'm too new to understand why 'air stagnation' should alarm me. Coming from DC, I inhaled scuzz everyday.

My Folly is Tres Chic

Addendum to the earlier post.

Today, I saw this metal secretary from a Paris antique shop. They are asking for $11K.

Resembles my folly somewhat, oui?

I know no one else cares but I take great satisfaction in my little cabinet.

My Folly is Complete

In May of this year, I purchased this large, heavy metal cabinet with the intention of stripping to shiny metal. Well, 7 months later, the project is basically done. I'm just waiting on the lamp to get back from the lamp shop where it is being repaired.

Over budget and severely delayed. Just your typical government employee at work.

Before a lot of elbow grease and procrastination:


And now, it's in my bedroom and it's almost complete:

Holiday Glow

The neighbors at the condo did some holiday decorating this weekend.



The results are fabulous.



See for yourself.

Christmas CD

Every year I compile a CD of holiday tunes as a sonic greeting card of sorts.
This year, the complilation was of electronica-loungey Christmas tunes. It's a departure from the more jazzy/bluesy compilations of the past.

I listened to a lot of baaad holiday electronica to make this year's CD.
Some of the remixes of holiday tunes were so cheesy I burst out laughing while walking through the Dallas-Ft Worth airport listening to various albums on my iPOD. I'm sure some people will think there is no such thing as good electronica. But let me tell you there is nothing worse than bad Christmas electronica. People will know little of my sacrifice.

And as a testament to my good taste, I've heard some of the tracks on this year's CD playing at Crate and Barrel and other hip retail destinations. Or perhaps it's just a testament to my commerically bland, non-eclectic, and mass-marketed taste.

Perhaps my favourite track from this year's CD is track 4 - the Ursula1000 remix of Julie London singing I'd Like You For Christmas.

I'm already thinking of a theme for next year's compilation.

Quaking

Someone asked me what I do when I'm not doing FEMA-related support work.

Currently, I'm drafting what I affectionately call the 'armageddon' plan or the Continuity of Operations Plan that my organization here in Portland will use if our offices are unavailable to use (with causes ranging from a bldg fire, earthquake, bomb threat, or whatever).

In addition, I've been tasked to run a spring 'exercise' regarding my organization's response to an earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone.

What is the Cascadia Subduction Zone? Read about it:

• Live Science
• State of Washington
• USGS
• Gov't of Canada

And there is a similar exercise planned regarding the New Madrid Seismic Zone.

• Central US Earthquake Consortium

Hopefully we can get all this done in the next 6 months - then hurricane season will roll around again.